GERMANY DELUXE GIVEAWAY - ending soon!

The big giveaway ends next weekend, and I am so excited to select the winner.  I've been busy scouting the stores for ideas, and even found a nearby boutique that has affordable Euro fashion. The possibilities of what can go in the box are ENDLESS.

So are you excited yet?! I am excited to go shopping!  

This week is your last chance to put in for all three chances to win. Just to keep it fair, please know that I will be verifying all Tweet links and blog posts. So.... if you forgot to do the appropriate shout-outs, now is your chance. 

Also, if you want to increase your chances - have a friend sign up and the two of you could share the prize. Just a suggestion......kind of like how friends go in for the lottery.  




The giveaway ends on 5/31 with the winner being announced on Tuesday (June 2nd - after the holiday weekend, of course).  Good luck to everyone!!!

Click HERE or else directly on the Germany flag (upper right corner of the blog) to enter this fabulous and unique giveaway.

Euro Trash Friday - a photo menagerie

I'm soooo tired. However, thanks to a mish-mash of random photos, I don't have to write out a huge posting. Lets consider this Lazy Euro Trash Friday! 

Enjoy the visual randomness (is that even a word?) of these Euro pics taken over the last few weeks: 

A German Restaurant - so cool inside

I should have bought this. Succulents in a basket - 10 euro

The arrangements here are so pretty. I got in trouble for taking this picture in a flower shop. People are such cows about cameras.

So Martha Stewart.

Loved this green mini at Zara in Metz, France

Irish pubs are everywhere. Total cash cows.

Lollipops is an overpriced accessory store in Metz. This was on 1 of 2 available t-shirts. I should have bought this too.
Yes - I got stink eye from the clerk for taking this photo.

Notice creepy with the sunglasses on? He was stare-city the whole time I was trying to people watch and take photos.
He freaked me out, but it was funny I caught him on film. What an as*hole.

That's it for now. Kind of loving Euro Trash Fridays -what do you think? Thumbs up or down?

French Blonde Bombshells

During my recent trip to France, I discovered that companies hand out full colored magazines and catalogs. They are in front of the store and are free for the taking. One of the mags I picked up is for a famous hair company, and lucky me - the edition was a tribute to blonde beauties. Here is the first paragraph in the magazine:

"Fair hair is a powerful symbol: often inspiring jealousy, it fascinates and charms. It is a colour synonymous with the purity, sweetness and naturalness. The blonde woman embodies not only the child-woman worthy of protection, but also the sexy femmme fatale who devastates men and is much envied. (Dessage mag, 8/9).

Sorry to all of my brunette friends out there, you're fabulous too - this just happens to be the only hair mag I picked up.

For those blonde loving and new style seeking friends - check out the fabulous photos!

So pretty. Uber short, but feminine

This is such a perfect 70's / French look.

A bit of comb-over going on here (read: Trump!), but still very sexy as long as the wind doesn't kick up.

Everything looks better in black and white

I like #2 and #4 for me.

Glamorous!

Soooo pretty.

Love this, but the military hat would destroy the look. The bangs would need to be trimmed every week. Hmmm.... I actually am loving this one. Think it would be ok with fine hair?

I really like this one too, but I'm beginning to think it looks a bit Beckham. Your thoughts?

I'm due for a cut and color. Here come the dreaded decision process of finding a good hairstylist, colorist AND one who speaks English. Ugggh.

Which hairstyle would you pick for me???? Or how about for you?

Photos courtesy of dessange.

Sexy Cigarettes? Oui!! Long hair? Non.

In a bold and adventurous move, I rented a car yesterday and drove myself on the autobahn to Metz, France. Yes FRANCE! I was screaming in excitement as I was crossing the border. The feeling of gratitude and pure joy was overwhelming.

Who gets to do this? On a boring old Wednesday, nonetheless.

There are SEVERAL Different posts associated with this 11 hour sensory overload trip, so today I will highlight three things:

HAIR:
Metz France is apparently my mother ship. All (and I mean 70%) had my hairstyle or some variation of it! I blended right in! Long hair is OUT, as French women are sporting short yet soft stylish do's. 

CIGARETTES:
French women have mastered the art of smoking. I'm not a smoker, and I am ofter the first to scrunch up my nose in judgement around Americans. But here? This is something different.

The way the women hold the cigarette and gracefully bring it to their mouth is quite unique. Maybe it's because they are beautiful with great clothes, so the cigarette functions as an accessory and not a dirty smoking stick. It deserves to be mentioned.

THE BLACK UNIFORM:
Everyone in France wears black, right? No, well 'non', if you're speaking French. The weather was sunny and warm (78 degrees), so I decided to wear white pants and a nude colored shirt. And lucky me - so did everyone else! White was EVERYWHERE. Apparently if the weather is over 69, the color goes from one extreme (black) to the other (white). The classic 'striped shirt' was a frequent sight too!

Sorry for the 'backside' photos. I haven't mastered the art of taking photos without people seeing me. Even now, there is usually a photo of someone watching me try to be sneaky.

Wish I could have gotten the front of this. Great layered outfit! Notice the cigg in the right hand?

Tons of stripes. Most of the women were rocking stilettos on the cobblestones. Uh-mazing.

Older French Couple. He patiently waited a long time while she dug through her purse.

This woman was GORGEOUS and she had this fit teeny-tiny little athletic body. All while puffing on her cig.

Ignore the mad looking German woman, but look at the ladies-who-lunch on the right.

Here is another pic of teeny-tiny. I was psuedo stalking her.

Even little girls are stylish. She was rocking the leopard print dress while spending the day with her father.

I wasn't up for asking someone to take my photo, so I was very pleased when I found this mirror finish door by the cathedral.

Come Find Me!

So where am I? I'm guest blogging today at Jessica's Sugar in My Grits blog! This is part one of my contribution to the 'Women Left Waiting' series.

Here is a posting sample:

"When using the loo, you are forced to completely disrobe which invariably causes the upper half of the uniform to fall to the bathroom floor".

Curious about what else I write about? You can read the rest here:  http://sugarnmygrits.blogspot.com/2011/05/in-military-female-soldiers-view.html

Women Left Waiting Blog Event - Jessica's post

Check out Jessica's gut wrenching love story. 
WARNING: this post will cause tears, but it is so inspiring. A must read!

Sugar in My Grits: Jessica- Our Story

Tapas and a Secret Hidden Bar

The benefit of eating in Germany is the ability to visit authentic restaurants from immigrants from all over the world. Let's say you're hungry and in the mood for.....

French deli sandwich. That is
decadent slices of Camembert!

Italian? Check.

French? Check.
British? Check. Kind of gross, but hey - if that's your thing....it's here.
Turkish? Check
Mexican? Nope - not here. If you do find something claiming to be Mexican food - run away. 

The problem with not having Mexican food is you begin to crave it (we always want what we can't have, right?). The closest solution is to enjoy Spanish food. Not quite the same thing, but the abundance of cumin can quench a south-of-the-border parched palette. 



Random people. Aren't the red pendant lights spicy?



Some co-workers and I recently found an outdoor tapas joint. The small plates were filled with olives, cheeses, chorizo, potatoes with cumin sauce, calamari and plenty of feta. DELICIOUS, and they sell Spanish wine by the carafe. We'll take two please!  

Here's the cool part, while I was wandering off to find the water closet (in the basement - of course), I stumbled upon the most unique bar. It has dome ceilings, cinder blocks and rustic wood booths. Isn't this amazing? How do you even begin to build something like this? I think it's my newest hidden gem. I'll be back for sure!

 

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS UNDERGROUND?